Home working for many people involves setting up websites in an attempt to make some money. However, with over 1.1 Billion live websites on the Internet (stats geeks can see the exact current number here), it’s essential to identify niches using a keyword research tool. Without carving out a decent niche, making money online can be extremely difficult.

Essentially, a key goal for all Internet entrepreneurs is to identify keywords with a considerable amount of search volume, where the competition’s not too intense.

Finding these sweet spots takes time and research, and for many years the go-to tool was the Google Keyword Planner. This could be accessed by anyone with a Google AdWords account – regardless of if they were actually paying out to advertise on Google.

However, towards the end of last year, Google started giving out very vague results to anyone not paying their way. As you’ll see from the screenshot above, Google’s tool now tells me that the monthly search volume for the phrase “keyword tool” is something between 10,000 and 100,000 searches.

This tells me nothing! Hence the urgent need for a Keyword Planner alternative.

This KWFinder review is (at the time of writing) the only review of such a product that I’ve reviewed for this site.

There are numerous dedicated SEO tools out there, such as Moz, SEMRush and AHRefs. I’ve had experience of using all of them in various work environments, and they’re incredible tools. However, they’re also:

Packed with a mind-boggling number of features.

Expensive (typically starting at around $100 per month).

For my own personal web projects (and for those many reading this site will undertake), all we need is a simple alternative to Google Keyword Planner. It was research into something like this that led me to KWFinder.

KWFinder Review: Pricing

KWFinder’s pricing is FAR less scary than the big-league SEO tools mentioned above.

There’s even a completely free tier. Limited to only three searches per day, this isn’t really suited to any genuinely practical use, but it does provide a way for people to check out the KWFinder functionality.

Commercial pricing starts at $12 per month for 100 keyword searches every 24 hours. This is probably enough to meet the requirements of anyone who needs to do basic keyword research as part of their home-based business.

It’s important to note that this price applies to people choosing to pay annually for 12 months up front. People paying monthly instead pay $29 per month for this tier (called mangools Basic). This pricing model seems a little harsh on anyone who may only want to subscribe for a couple of months, however anyone remotely serious about a web-based business needs a reliable keyword tool in their lives.

The top pricing tier (mangools Premium) allows for 500 lookups per day and costs $25 per month on an annual basis, or $49 per month monthly.

Using KWFinder

The best thing about using KWFinder is that you don’t need to be an SEO expert to understand what’s going on.

The main “Suggestions” area allows you to type in a keyword you are interested in and immediately see the following:

(Features all notated on the screenshot below).

The exact monthly search volume for that term (either globally or in your selected area). (1)

The search trend throughout the year. (2)

A list of suggested terms related to your search. (3)

Competition rankings, to show you how easy it would be to rank for an article based around your keyword. (4)

The average Cost Per Click (CPC) for paid advertising around your keyword. (5)

The current top ten rankings in a Google search (the SERPS)­ – so you can see exactly who your competition is. (6)

How much traffic you can reasonably expect to receive if you achieve a specific ranking in the search results. (7).

There’s plenty of other visible data too, such as Domain Authority figures and numbers of incoming links, but the above is plenty to allow you to quickly research new ideas, weigh up your chance of success, and come up with some keyword inspiration.

Other KWFinder Features

The features shown above are those I use most often with KWFinder, but there’s plenty more.

The AutoComplete and Questions tabs work identically to the Suggestions function, but instead offer up either autocompleted searches based on your keyword, or questions people type into Google. These options are really handy for identifying new content opportunities, especially (as is always the case) if you happen across something with a good search volume and little competition.

There’s also a handy History feature showing all of your previous searches – handy if, like me, you have late night inspiration and forget all about it come the following morning! (I’ve left some of the searches I did around this review in my screenshot!)

You can also create keyword lists and export searches for further number crunching.

SERPChecker

Access to the mangools SERPChecker tool is included with the KWFinder subscription, but searches made in SERPChecker come out of your daily 100 or 500 search allowance.

SERPChecker allows you to drill more deeply into the current search results for your keywords to help you truly analyse what you need to do to beat the competition.

As is the case throughout KWFinder, there are useful tooltip question mark icons everywhere, so you can instantly find out what anything means you if you don’t understand it from a quick cursor hover.

There’s also plenty more information in the online documentation.

KWFinder Review Conclusion – Is this the best Google Keyword Planner Alternative?

As someone who’s had occasion to use all sorts of keyword finders and SEO tools, I’ve truly come to appreciate when less is more.

I found KWFinder because of searching for a Google Keyword Planner alternative. At $12 per month it’s worth every penny for the extra insight it provides. Just a few minutes with the tool can give me an accurate steer on whether an online business idea warrants further research or whether it should be quickly dismissed.

KWFinder isn’t necessarily going to please an expert SEO consultant with an in-depth knowledge of something like Moz. However, I’ve recommended it to a couple of such people as a supplementary tool, or as something for writers to use to help with keyword selection.

I use KWFinder almost daily – before I write most articles, and always before I take any time-consuming action on an online business idea. I strongly recommend that you do too. It’s definitely become my every day Google Keyword Planner Alternative.

AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER: KWFinder users are automatically signed up to a referral scheme, so I do earn a small commission if you sign up. However, my views are my own. I discovered this software independently, I am a paying customer, and this is a genuine review.

87%

87%

Indispensable!

KWPlanner is software I use almost every day. Whilst not the most feature packed SEO tool out there, it does everything web-based home workers should need to start them on their internet marketing journey.

About Author

Founder of HomeWorkingClub.com - Ben is a long-established freelancer with a passion for helping other people take control of their destiny and break away from "working for the man." Prone to outbursts of bluntness and realism.